[Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials of Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis of Yang-deficiency Pattern by Acupuncture Plus Moxibustion].

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus moxibustion and simple acupuncture in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of -deficiency syndrome.

Methods: Fifty-eight KOA patients with yang-deficiency syndrome were chosen and randomly divided into acupuncture plus moxibustion group (＝30) and acupuncture group (＝28). Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Xuehai (SP 10), Yanglingquan (GB 34) on the affected side of the body were punctured with filiform needles or/and stimulated with moxibustion using seed-sized moxa cones. The treatment was conducted once daily for 10 days, followed with another 10 days after 2 days interval. The pain severity was evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were used to measure the KOA pain, stiffness and function before and after the treatment, and 1 month after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was also evaluated according to the "Standards for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Diseases/Syndromes of Traditional Chinese Medicine" (issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China in 1994).

Results: Twenty days and 1 month after the treatment, the scores of VAS, and KOA pain, stiffness and motor function of WOMAC were significantly decreased in both groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment (<0.01), and were obviously lower in the acupuncture plus moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group (<0.05, <0.01). Of the 28 and 30 cases in the acupuncture and acupuncture plus moxibustion groups, 7 and 12 experienced marked improvement, 12 and 16 were effective, 9 and 2 ineffective, with the therapeutic effect being 67.86% and 93.33%, respectively. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus moxibustion was apparently superior to that of simple acupuncture (<0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture plus moxibustion is significantly superior to simple acupuncture therapy in relieving symptoms of KOA patients, and also has a better post-effect.